Women's Basketball: Paige Drafted by WNBA
April 16, 2005 05:51 PM | General
April 16, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University senior point guard Yolanda Paige was drafted today by the Indiana Fever in the second round of the 2005 WNBA draft as the 16th overall selection.
A 5-foot-6-inch native of Virginia Beach, Va., and a 2005 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, Paige was the third pick selected in the second round of the draft and the first of a total of six BIG EAST player taken.
"Today is a dream come true," Paige said. "I've worked hard for this and I'm excited. I want to thank everyone that has supported me. My coaches pushed me to get me where I'm at right now and I can't thank them enough."
This past season Paige led the nation in assists at 8.7 per contest. She set a WVU single season assist record with 297 on the year, shattering her previous mark of 253 set last season. More impressively, Paige finished her collegiate career with 902 career assists, seventh all-time in NCAA laurels.
Paige also guided WVU to a 21-13 record and a championship appearance in the WNIT. An all-BIG EAST second team performer this year, Paige also was named to the WNIT all-tournament team.
"I'm really happy for Yolanda," WVU coach Mike Carey said of his first-ever recruit at West Virginia. "It's been four years of hard work and dedication and she just continued to improve from day one. After talking to Indiana's coach, Yolanda will have an opportunity to contribute to the Fever immediately. It's great for her to get to go to Indiana since point guard was a need for them."
Paige is the second Mountaineer player to be drafted by the WNBA. Former Mountaineer guard Kate Bulger was selected in last year's WNBA draft at pick No. 39 by the Minnesota Lynx.
"It's a tribute to our style of play, offensively and defensively," Carey said of Bulger and Paige being drafted in consecutive years.
Paige was the second selection by the Fever, with Mississippi State standout Tan White being Indiana's first round selection at pick No. 2 overall. The Fever completed its draft by selecting Vanderbilt's Ashley Early with 29th overall selection in round three.
Next up for Paige is WNBA rookie camp for newcomer orientation this Saturday, April 23, in Chicago. Training camp begins Sunday, April 24, and the Fever open preseason play at home against Phoenix, Tuesday, May 10.
